We Shall Remain: Trail of Tears Pt. 3 of 5

Sequoyah was devoted to enabling the Cherokee people to have the power that comes with a written language, a power held by the white man. Though he couldn't read or write in another language, Sequoyah invented an efficient language for the Cherokee.

In 1832 the United States Supreme Court recognized Cherokee sovereignty, thanks to the hard work done by leaders such as John Ridge.

Ratified by the US in 1836, the treaty of New Echota required the Cherokee to move out west. They were told they had two years to remove themselves peacefully.

On the morning of May 26th, 1838, the United States began removing Cherokee from their homes in Georgia. Everything that wasn't actually on the person now belonged to the state, and the Cherokee were forced out onto the roads with whatever they had on their backs.

In 1838, the Cherokee nation is forced to walk more than 1000 miles from Georgia to the Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma). The Trail of Tears march caused the death of more than 4,000 Cherokee people.

The effects of 1830s policies on Native Americans are still felt today.

President Andrew Jackson supported moving Native Americans west of the Mississippi. The Indian Removal Bill became the first major focus of his administration.

Harry Oosahwee, Cherokee language instructor at Northeastern State University in Oklahoma, talks about the importance of using the Cherokee language in Trail of Tears.